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Players volunteer injured by Harris English's opening tee shot

Denny Meredith of Jacksonville is attended to after being struck by a golf ball hit by Harris English in the third round of The Players Championship.

There was a scary moment along the first fairway of the TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium Course Saturday when Harris English's first shot of the day hit volunteer Denny Meredith of Jacksonville on the right side of the head, opening a gash that bled considerably by the time First Aid volunteers arrived.

Meredith, who has been a Players volunteer for 11 years, said it was the first time he had been hit by a ball working on the course.

"Not even a ground ball," he said.

Meredith never lost consciousness but was transported back to the main First Aid center near the volunteer center. He was later taken by private car to Baptist Beaches to undergo tests.

English walked over to Meredith and apologized for hitting him, then autographed his glove and thanked him for volunteering. Matt Kuchar, English's playing partner, also autographed a glove for Meredith and thanked him for his service.

One witness said the sound of the ball hitting Meredith's head was just as loud as if it had hit a tree trunk. When it did, it kicked 20 yards further left into pine straw, and English had to pitch out and eventually bogeyed the hole.

On the next hole, the par-5 second, English hooked his drive into a bush. He was able to get a club on the ball but it traveled on about 20 yards sideways and was in he rough. English advanced his third shot only 86 yards, hit his fourth shot over the green, hit a bad chip and three-putted. He went from a tie to second when he began his round to a tie for 26th in just two holes.